Watch: Lakhs of women lined up to promote gender equality with a 620 km-long wall in Kerala
The Vanitha Mathil, which was organised by the state government, saw an unprecedented – and unbelievable – turnout.
നീലേശ്വരം - കാഞ്ഞങ്ങാട് #VanithaMathil #WomenWall pic.twitter.com/OHvLPq1c4s
— Vishwa (@Cyt_Vishwa) January 1, 2019
Lakhs of women in Kerala came forward in a show of solidarity to form the 620 km-long “women’s wall” on Tuesday, sending out a powerful message about gender equality and Renaissance values.
The Vanitha Mathil (“women’s wall” in Malayalam) stretched from the capital, Thiruvananthapuram to the northern district of Kasaragod. Videos from the historic event – posted on social media – showed women joining hands to from a human chain stretching across this enormous distance.
It was an incredible and moving display of unity in the fight for gender rights. And a memorable start to a new year.
Kerala womens united to create worlds biggest #WomenWall against the attempts to destroy the Renaissance values. 💪#VanithaMathil #OurRenaissance pic.twitter.com/at1rjS9rVy
— JAYESH (@sbjayesh) January 1, 2019
A time lapse video that shows you how big the scale of the #VanithaMathil was. #WomenWall #WomensWallKerala pic.twitter.com/k98sR1cB1O
— Moosa (@mooserbaer) January 1, 2019
Not another brick in the walls of patriarchy, casteism and backwardness. But cementing the #WomenWall for the future! pic.twitter.com/2GOPj377zq
— Azhar (@400BlowJobs) January 1, 2019
Kerala’s Left Front government, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, had called for the chain in December. It came against the backdrop of protests in the state against the Supreme Court judgment that empowered women of menstruating age to enter the Sabarimala temple, defying a norm that had kept them out.